HB6841, the PEERS Act of 2025, would amend the Medicare statute to cover peer support services furnished at certain provider types, including Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics (RHCs), community mental health centers, and certified community behavioral health clinics. The bill defines peer support services as emotional, informational, instrumental, and social/community supports provided to individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition or substance use disorder, with the goal of helping them achieve recovery, community integration, self-empowerment, and self-determination.
The bill also defines a “peer support specialist” as a person in recovery from a mental health or substance use condition who is certified under a state or other Secretary-approved process aligned with national peer-support guidelines and SAMHSA core competencies. It makes conforming changes to Medicare’s coverage and exclusion provisions so that these services are recognized as covered services when furnished by the specified facilities and not covered when furnished outside those settings. The amendments would take effect for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would expand Medicare coverage and payment eligibility for peer support services in specified primary care and behavioral health settings, affecting title XVIII of the Social Security Act. It would create a new statutory definition for peer support services and peer support specialists, and it would require Medicare to treat those services as covered when delivered by approved facilities. The practical effect would be to broaden access to recovery-oriented behavioral health supports for Medicare beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders, while limiting coverage to services delivered through the listed provider types and certified personnel.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee debate, recorded votes, or amendments, so there is no documented opposition or support in the provided materials. Based on the bill text and title, the measure appears to be framed as a behavioral health access and recovery initiative, suggesting a generally supportive policy posture toward integrating peer support into Medicare-covered services. Because the bill was only referred to committee, its legislative sentiment is best characterized as preliminary and not yet tested through floor consideration.
Contention
The main policy questions likely to arise concern who qualifies as a peer support specialist, how states or the Secretary certify those workers, and whether the certification standards are sufficiently uniform while still allowing state flexibility. Another likely point of contention is the scope of Medicare coverage: the bill limits payment to services furnished by specific facility types, which may prompt discussion about whether coverage should be broader or whether those limits are necessary to ensure quality and program integrity. Stakeholders focused on behavioral health access may support the expansion, while those concerned about federal spending, oversight, or provider qualification standards may seek tighter controls.